Draft-regulator



E. MCKIERNAN.

DRAFT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. 1919.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920.

ELBERT McKIERNAN, 0

F FORT MADISON, IOW'A.

DRAFT-REGULATOR.

Application filed September 13, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELnnnT MOKIERNAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort llladison, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Regulators, ofwhich the following is a specification, e heing had to the accompany- .111 tion relates to certain improvements in wait regulators, and hasrelation more particularly to a device of this general characterparticularly designed and adapted for use in connection with alocomotive, and it is the object of the invention to provide a novel andimproved device of this general. character whereby the area of alocomotive nozzle tip may be readily and conveniently regulated, as maybe occasioned by the various grades of the traclrway, the differences intonnage, grades oi coal, or thickness of fire, so that'a considerablesaving of fuel can be effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved deviceof this general character whereby the desired regulation of the nozzletip may be effecteo with convenience and facility by an engineman withinthe cab.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and a rangement of the several parts of my improved draftregulators whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the be v.ter 11rd rstood. I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accom panyingdrawings, wherein is diagrammatically illustrated a draft regulatorconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings denotes the nozzle or exhausttip as generally employed in locomotive constructi on, and which ispositioned below the petticoat pipe P, positioned in alinement with thestack S.

Extending axi lly of the nozzle E is a rod 1. T he rod 1 extendsexteriorly of the nozzle E through the top or open end thereof, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14, 1920. Serial No. 323,536.

said upper or outer end portion of they rod 1 has suitably aflixedthereto the valve n1ember M, in the form of an inverted cone. As thevalve member M ismoved toward the upper or open end ofthe nozzle E thearea of the upper or open end portion of said nozzle E may be regulatedas the necessities of practice may necessitate, and in order to insurethe desired'draft on the fire to burn the fuel properly to furnish the.required amount of steam to operate the engine at all times.

The rod 1 is supported for endwise movement, and is constantly urgedupward through the instrumentality of a. coil spring encircling the rod1, and bearing against a stop 3, suitably afiixed to the rod 1.

The stop 3 extends laterally of the rod 1 and suitably secured to saidextended portion isan extremity of a flexible member 4. The member 4 mayconsist of a chain or cable, as preferred. The flexible member 4 extendsdownwardly to the lower or base portion of the nozzle E, and passesunder and around a pulley 5, rotatively supported at the inner end of ahorizontally disposed pipe or tubular member 6, extending exteriorly ofthe nozzle C denotes a, cylinder suitably supported in the base portionof the smoke box B, and in which is arranged for rectilinear movement apiston 7. The piston 7 is pro' vided with a stem or rod 8, which extendsoxteriorly of the cylinder C, through a head thereof, and through thepipe or 0011- duit 6 and the lower end of the flexible member 4, issecured to the outer end portion of said rod or stem 8.

A denotes an air line which leads from a valve, (not shown) in the cabof the locomotive, so that an engineman may adjust said valve in amanner whereby air pres-- sure may be employed to move the piston T in adirection to draw the valve member M downward toward the upper or openend of the nozzle E, as the occasions of practice may necessitate.

The extent of movement of the piston 7 within the cylinder C is such asto permit the valve member M to be moved downward, so that the upper orlarger diameter of the member M will be level with the top or tip of thenozzle.

10 denotes a coil spring encircling the stem or rod 8 and interposedbetween the piston 7 and the head of the cylinder C through which thestem or rod 8 extends for regulating the movement of the piston 7.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that adraftregulator in combination with the exhaust nozzle of an engine, avalve member coacting with p the discharge end thereof, a rod dependingfrom the valve member and supported for endwise movement within thenozzle, a stop fixed to the rod, a spring engaging the stop toconstantly urge the rod and valve member in a direction away from thenozzle, a cylinder positioned to one side of the exhaust nozzle, atubular member extending within the nozzle, a piston mounted forrectilinear movement within the cylinder, a rod coacting with the pistonand extending exteriorl of the cylinder and within the tubular mem er, aguide roller carried by the inserted end portion of the tubular member,and a flexible member secured to the stop carried by the first named rodand passing around .the guide roller into the tubular member, saidflexible member being also socured to the outer end portion of thepiston rod.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ELBERT MQKIERNAN.

